DOUGLAS COUNTY, Mo. — Seven defendants were sentenced or entered guilty pleas during Circuit Law Day held Aug. 4 in Douglas County before Judge Craig Carter.
James D. Vanscoyoc, 49, of Gainesville, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the class D felony of possession of methamphetamine as a prior drug offender. Vanscoyoc also admitted to violating his probation in a previous possession of methamphetamine case and was sentenced to seven years in prison after his probation was revoked.
Under plea agreements in both cases, the court ordered the sentences to be served pursuant to Missouri’s 120 Day Treatment statute. The offenses occurred in June 2026 and April 2023 and were investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
Brian Minier, 57, of Mountain Grove, was sentenced to seven years in prison for the class D felony of tampering with electronic monitoring equipment as a prior offender and four years for the class E felony of resisting arrest as a prior offender.
The sentences were ordered to run consecutively for a total of 11 years. The court suspended the sentences and placed Minier on five years of supervised probation with the Board of Probation and Parole. The offenses occurred in January 2025 and were investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
Tiffany L. Hodges, 38, of Nixa, was sentenced to five years in prison for the class D felony of possession of methamphetamine after admitting to violating her probation. Following a probation revocation hearing, the court ordered her previously imposed five year sentence to be executed under the 120 Day Treatment statute.
According to the Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Hodges had absconded from Probation and Parole supervision for more than six years. The original offense occurred in March 2017 and was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Heath J. Farrar, 49, of Louisburg, was sentenced to five years in prison for the class D felony of forgery after admitting to violating his probation. Under an agreement, the court placed Farrar on a new five year term of supervised probation with the Board of Probation and Parole. The original offense occurred in February 2023 and was investigated by the Ava Police Department.
Brett M. Waggoner, 30, of Ava, pleaded guilty to the class E felony of nonsupport of a child. Under a plea agreement, Waggoner received a suspended imposition of sentence and was placed on five years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay his child support. The offense occurred in April 2024 and was investigated by the Child Support Unit of the Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
Janice L. Blackledge, 66, of Seymour, pleaded guilty to the class D felony of possession of methamphetamine. She received a suspended imposition of sentence and was placed on five years of supervised probation. Blackledge was also ordered to successfully complete the Lane Change Webster program. The offense occurred in August 2024 and was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
Brandon L. Hurst, 37, of Ava, pleaded guilty to the class D felony of possession of methamphetamine. Under a plea agreement, Hurst received a suspended imposition of sentence and was placed on five years of supervised probation. The offense occurred in April 2026 and was investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department.
The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported that 82 criminal cases were on the Aug. 4 docket, with some defendants appearing by video. Five felony guilty pleas were entered, three failure to appear warrants were issued and three defendants had their probation revoked.
Two defendants were set for plea hearings and two successfully completed probation. Four defendants were scheduled for probation violation hearings, 15 were set for either plea or trial settings and one defendant was scheduled for a suppression hearing.
Four cases were also set for jury trial in 2027.
